Improvement in cork-fasteners for bottles



W. D. BALCOM.

CORK-FASTENERS FOR BOTTLES.

Patented Augnl5, 1876.

No.1'81,0Z6.

INVENTOR- WITNESSES- PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER D. BALOOM, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORK-FASTENERS FOR BOTTLES.

I Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 181,026, dated August 15, 1876; application filed February 14, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER DrBALGOM, of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Cork-Fastener for Bottles; and I do hereby declare that the following specification, taking in connection with the drawing making a part of the same, is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Figure 1 shows my improved fastener attached to the neck of a bottle and holding the cork. Fig. 2 shows the fastening partially removed. Fig. 3 shows the fastening entirely removed.

The object of my invention is to firmly secure the cork in bottles containing liquids under pressure, and at the same time produce a fastening device that may be easily and quickly removed.

Cork -fasteners of different kinds now in use seldom fail to hold the cork securely in its place; but the inside pressure, together with the spongy nature of the cork itself, soon results in the embedding of the fastening therein, thus rendering necessary the outlay of much strength in its removal, which is not unfrequently attended with the laceration and bruising of the fingers.

In my invention, A is a collar around the neck of the bottle. B is a clasp, having an open slot, 0, at one end, and terminating in a ]ever or thumb-piece, D, at the other. The clasp Bis connected with the neck-collarA by side straps E E. The side straps E E are attached to the collar A and the clasp B by rivets, in such a manner as to permit them to work freely thereon.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The bottle is placed under the plunger and filled; the fastening device is in the position shown in Fig. 3. The plunger, having descended and driven in the cork, remains upon and holds the same in that position until the clasp B is placed over the top of the cork, as shown in Fig. 1, when the plunger is withdrawn, leaving the cork firmly secured in the neck of the bottle. The clasp B being made with an open slot permits it to be placed over the cork, as shown in Fig. l, and the plunger subsequently withdrawn. When it is desired to remove the cork, a downward pressure is exerted upon the lever D by the thumb or finger, the tendency of which is to remove the clasp B, as shown in Fig. 2. The pressure of the liquid upon the cork forces it against the inclined surface of the clasp B, which, added to the pressure of the finger of the lever D, easily throws back the fastening device to the position shown in Fig. 3, and the cork flies out.

In case the cork is raised up in the center by the pressure of the liquid, the clasp, by reason of the open slot, is not forced over such raised surface, but rather away from it, thus avoiding the great outlay of strength required in removing the fastenings now in use.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The cork-fastening device described, composed'of the neck collar A, side straps E E,

and clasp B, open at one end, and terminating at the other in a lever or thumb-piece, D, the whole constructed and operating substantiall y as set forth.

W. D. BALOOM.

Witnesses:

WALTER. B. VINCENT, J o. T. RICH. 

